In June 2009, I threw a Quince party for myself. Similar to a sweet sixteen or bat mitzvah, a quince is held to celebrate a fifteenth birthday. I didn’t have one when I was actually fifteen so I figured that year was the right year for a birthday party fit for a princess.

I planned an evening with fourteen other ladies for dinner at Dos Caminos and dancing at Santos Party House.

The Betsey Johnson Burnout Stripe Organza Strapless Dress I am wearing in my Twitter avatar was the perfect “teen” dress for me to wear on my big day turned night turned day again.

I paid close to $400 for my quince dress and wore it only once. A few weeks after my birthday it found a new home. I gave it to a charity that provides prom dresses to girls who cannot afford them.